November 9

November 9, 1848: The Fox Sisters conducted a public seance at Rochester's Corinthian Hall, using their "rapping" technique. The sisters began their careers as mediums in their Wayne County home, convincing their neighbors that the house was haunted. Moving to Rochester, the girls refined their technique using a 'cracking' of their toe joints to make on-demand noises from the spirits. They began giving performances to larger public audiences and attracting a following of believers in a new religion that became known as "Spiritualism".

Sources and Further Reading

1.  Rochester History (April 1956) pg 18
2. Wikipedia:Fox sisters

October 6

October 6, 1823: The stone aqueduct over the Genesee River is opened. Travel along the Erie Canal becomes possible between the Genesee River to Albany and Lake Champlain.

Further Reading:

• University of Rochester: Erie Canal Chronology and Bibliography

September 22

September 22, 1936: Three thousand Rochesterians as well as hundreds of dignitaries from industry, local government, banks, clergy and the press crowd into Sibley's downtown department store as Mayor Stanton unveils the city's first Escalator. At the cost of $250,000, the moving stairway was hailed as a "feat of construction and engineering" and a significant investment in the future of the city.

Information Sources and Further Reading
1. Marcotte, Bob, "Sibley's had humble beginnings", June 15, 2009

September 13

September 13, 1826: A carriage, believed to be holding the kidnapped William Morgan stops at Handford's Landing just outside Rochester. Morgan had boasted his intentions of publishing a book revealing the secrets of the Freemasons. An attempt was made to burn down his publishing house in Batavia and he was soon after arrested on petty larceny in Canandaigua. After a night in Jail, someone paid his debt and whisked him away in a carriage, through Rochester and onto Lewiston where he was believed to have been drowned in the Niagara river. The affair sparked widespread suspicion of the Masons and launched the anti-masonic movement and national political party.

Sources and Further Reading:

1. Wikipedia: William Morgan (anti-Mason)
2. Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon: William Morgan Notes
3. History of Rochester and Monroe County, New York (1908); Peck, William F.; page 63

September 11

September 11, 1813: Local residents gather at the shore to watch a naval battle between the British fleet commanded by Sir James Yeo and the Americans under Commodore Chauncey. The residents of Charlotte, fearing another British raid on the village, are encouraged by the apparent victory of the American ships.


See Also:

May 14, 1814

Sources and Further Reading:

1. Rochester History (1942) Vol 4, No 4, pg 11

September 10

September 10, 1871: A dedication ceremony for the new Holy Sepulchre Cemetery draws a crowd of 10,000, despite limited transportation options from the city north to its site along the Charlotte Boulevard toll road (now Lake Avenue) on the west bank of the Genesee River.

Sources and Further Reading:

1. Rochester History (2005), vol 67, no 2, pg 4-5

September 10, 1840: The Auburn and Rochester Railroad opens providing passenger train service between Rochester and Canandaigua. It's first steam engine was known as "The Young Lion of the West" or later just "The Lion". The railroad was eventually extended through Seneca Falls, then Geneva, Cayuga, and finally Auburn, a total distance of 77 miles in a scheduled time of three hours and forty minutes.

Sources and Further Reading:

1. Wikipedia: Auburn and Rochester Railroad
2. Rochester, A Story Historical (1884); Parker Jenny Marsh, page 134
3. A History of Monroe County, New York (1887); Morrison, W.E., page 43 
4. The Locomotive The Young Lion of the West (2004), Palmer Richard
5. History of Rochester and Monroe County, New York (1908); Peck, William F.; page 73

   See Also:

• Trail Map: Auburn Trail Pittsford
• Trail Map: Aubrun Trail Victor

September 7

September 7, 1901: Mayor Carnahan declares Saturday Sept. 7 a civic holiday for the celebration of Rochester Day at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. About 8,000 Rochesterians make the short train trip to the neighboring city, however, the shooting of US President McKinley the previous day at the expo puts a damper on the celebration. President McKinley died the following week and an investigation led to the arrest of anarchist, and former Rochesterian, Emma Goldman in connection with the plot, although she was later released.

Sources and Further Reading:

1. Rochester History (1964) v. 26, n. 3, pg 11-12
2. Wikipedia: Emma Goldman